Softball Defeats JMU, Forces Game 3

May 28, 2016, 12:55 PM (CT)
Updated: May 28, 2016, 08:12 PM (CT)

Allie Walljasper pitched a shutout as LSU forced game three against JMU

Kyle Zedaker

Clyde Verdin
Associate SID

HARRISONBURG, Va. - Facing the end of their season, the No. 10 LSU softball team got a seven-inning, five-hit shutout in the circle from Allie Walljasper and scored both of its runs in the fourth inning to earn a 2-0 win over No. 8 James Madison to force a winner-take-all game three Saturday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Park in Harrisonburg.

In her first seven-inning complete-game shutout since Southern Miss, Walljasper (11-5) struck out five and walked just one on 84 pitches against the Dukes (50-5), shutting out JMU for the first time in 55 games dating back to last season.

Megan Good (32-3) suffered the loss, going the distance and allowing both runs on five hits with five walks and three strikeouts. Good also aided her cause as one of the five JMU hits in the game.

While there was one hit between the two sides midway through three, LSU was the first team to get multiple runners on base in the bottom of the third as Sandra Simmons earned a walk to reach first after an out. After a strikeout, Bianka Bell earned a walk to put two on as LSU was looking to strike, but a deep fly to left center ended the Tiger threat.

In the top of the fourth a single to right center and a bunt single put two JMU runners on base with no outs. A grounder to Bell at third put the first out on the board to get out the lead runner, as a fly out to left put two on the board. On the very next play, Serrett made a leaning grab to save a potential RBI hit to end the inning and the Duke threat.

Kloss didn’t wait long to give LSU its first hit and run, smoking a shot to the bleachers in left center to give LSU a 1-0 lead over James Madison in the bottom of the fourth. Thornhill singled to short to reach first, advancing to second on a Quinn sacrifice bunt. A single to center by Serrett put runners at the corners, as Griggs came through with a hard-hit infield single to plate another run to make it 2-0 Tigers.

LSU got the first two outs of the fifth quickly, but a bunt single to third and single to left put two JMU runners on just as quickly. Fortunately, a liner to second ended the frame to keep the Dukes off of the board.